Swab cup



D. SCARAMUCCI Aug. 16, 1966 SWAB CUP 2 Sheets-Shea* J Filed April 25, 1963 2 ZE-1l 4d TIEL? TJE4 TU' :5t-5

INVENTOR. e 00AM-e 5ms/:Maca

United States Patent Office 3,266,386 Patented August 16, 1966 3,266,386 SWAB CUP Dorner Scaramucci, P.0. Box 912.5, klahoma City 1S, Okla. Filed Apr. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 275,581 7 Claims. (Cl. 92-242) This invention relates to an improved swab cup for cleaning and removing fluid from oil well tubing.

This application is a continuation-impart of applicants -copending application, Serial No. 154,528, tiled November 24, 1961, and entitled Well Swab Assembly.

As it is lwell known in the oil industry, tubing installed in an oil well frequently requires swabbing, such as during completion of a well and during workover of an old and partially depleted well. Swabbing involves the lowering of one or more swab cup assemblies through the tubing on a wire line until the desired depth is reached, and then raising the assembly through the tubing. Each swab cup assembly normally comprises a mandrel having one or more bypass passageways therethrough and a tubular swab cup slidingly supported on the mandrel in order that the swab cup will be raised on the mandrel during downward movement of the assembly to open the bypass passageways through the mandrel and allow the assembly to settle through fluid standing in the tubing. When the desired depth is reached, tension is placed on the wire line to raise the well swab mandrel and move the mandrel upwardly a short distance through the swab cup. As a result, the bypass passageways through the mandrel are closed and the complete swab cup assembly forms what may be considered a piston in the tubing. Fluid is removed from the tubing by pulling upwardly on the wire line until the swab cup assembly reaches the upper end of the tubing.

The swab cup disclosed in the above-mentioned copending applications utilizes one or more relatively thin flexible lips having a diameter in its relaxed condition substantially equal to the inner diameter of the tubing in which it is used in order to provide a quick and efficient seal with the inner wall of the tubing when the swab cup is initially lifted in the tubing. Each thin flexible lip is prevented from turning over and losing the fluid load supported on the lip by a column of resilient material formed around the swab cup immediately below the respective lip. This type of swab cup construction has been shown to have a remarkably long service life compared with prior cups; will lift fluid loads substantially larger than swab cups prior thereto, and has received wide acceptance in the oil industry.

One of the time-honored problems in swabbing, and one which has not been completely satisfactorily solved by the swab cup disclosed in the above-mention copending application, is the length of time required to lower a swab cup assembly through liuid standing in a well tubing. This problem has been increased in recent years with the increased use of light-weight aluminum mandrels 'which provide less weight to force the swab cup do-wn through the tubing. It has previously been thought necessary that, in order for the swab cup to provide an eiiicient seal with the inner wall of the tubing, the swab cup must remain in contact with the inner 4wall of the tubing as the swab cup assembly is lowered to the desired depth. Such contact between the swab cup and the inner wall of the tubing during the downward movement of the swab cup provides a frictional drag and reduces the speed of downward movement of the cup. It may also be noted that most well tubings contain deposits of s-cale and/ or paraflin on the inner walls thereof which further tend to reduce the speed of downward movement fof the swab cup.` In fact, it is common practice in the "field to run an undersized cup for the first few runs to remove paraliin prior to running a full sized cup for lifting fluid from the tubing. It should be further noted that contact between the swab cup and the inner wall of the tubing on the downward movement of the cup provides unnecessary wear of the outer surfaces of the cup and shortens the service life of the cup.

Another time-honored problem in swabbing is pulling the swab cup through the couplings between the adjacent joints of tubing. Adjacent joints of tubing are normally interconnected by a threaded coupling wherein the adjacent ends of the tubing joints are spaced apart a short distance to provide a recess at the coupling location. If the swab cup extends outwardly a suflicient distance to engage the inner wall of the tubing string in the relaxed condition of the cup, the upper end of the engaging portion of the ycup will contact the lower end of each tubing joint and be subjected to a mechanical shearing force which materially affects the service life of the cup.

The present invention contemplates a swab cup construction utilizing the combination of at least one thin flexible lip and a supporting column of resilient material below the lip as disclosed in the above-mentioned copending application. In the present swab cup, however, the thin liexible 4lip has an louter diameter, in the relaxed condition of the lip, less than the inner diameter of the tubing in which the cup is used. The resilient supporting column also has an outer diameter (in the relaxed c011- dition of the column) less than the inner diameter of the tubing. Thus, the cup will fall freely through the tubing string with a minimum of contact between the cup and the inner wall of the tubing. The cup has been found capable of making entry into a tubing having an appreci-V able coating of paraiin therein. The thin flexible lip or lips of the present swab cup are extended upwardly and outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the cup, in the relaxed condition of the lips, and the lips are so dimensioned that when fluid pressure is applied to the upper surface of the lips the lips will flex downwardly and move the outer peripheries of the lips into sealing engagement with the inner wall of the tubing string to lift a column of iluid from the tubing as well as remove parafiin that may be deposited on the inner wall of the tubing.

The present invention also contemplates the spacing of adjacent sets of lips and supporting columns in a multiple lip cup in such a manner that each flexible lip will be affected only 'by a iluid load thereon, and will not be mechanically distored when the adjacent upper column is placed in compression.

An object of this invention is to provide a swab cup for lifting fluid from well tubings, wherein the cup has a long service life.

Another object of this invention is to provide an oil well tubing swab cup which may be Iutilized tolift a large load of liu-id from a tubing string.

Another object of this invention is to provide an oil well tubing swab cup which will not be damaged by being pulled through the coupling areas of Va tubing string.

A further object of this invention is to provide an oil well tubing swab cup which may be lowered through fluid standing in la tubing string in a minimum of time.

Another object of this invention is to minimize the wear on the outer surface ofthe swab cup asthe swab cup is lowered through a tubing string.

Another o'bject of this invention is to minimize mandrel lfailures in swab cup assemblies.

A further object of this invention is to provide a swab cup utilizing a plurality of sealing lips wherein each sealing lip will be alfected only by a iiuid load imposed thereon.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an oil well tu-bing swab cup which may *be economically manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a vertical sectional view through a swa-b cup constructed in laccordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through a swab cup assembly positioned in a tubing string, illustrating the condition of the assembly as the assembly is being moved downwardly through the tubing.

FIG. 3 is a partial vertical sectional view of a swab cup assembly illustrating the position of the swab cup as the assembly istarts being pulled upwardly through the tubing.

FIG. 4 -is a View similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the condition of the cup during upward movement of the assembly through the tubing and while the cup is lifting uid through the tubing.

FIG. 5 is another View similar to FIG. 3 illustrating an extreme loading condition for the cup.

FIG. 6 is a partial vertical sectional View of a single lip swab cup assembly illustrating the positions of the various portions of a cup as the cup is being pulled through 'a coupling of a tubing string.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view as taken along lines 7 7 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view through a multiple lip swab cup.

FIG. 9 is a partial vertical sectional view through a swab cup assembly illustrating the positions of the various portions of a multiple lip cup las the cup is being pulled upwardly through a coupling of a tubing string.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly FIG. l, reference character 1i) generally designates a swab cup constructed in accordance with this invention. The swab cup 10 comprises a rigid sleeve 12 formed of any vsuitable material, such as metal or plastic, and a body 14 of -resilient material molded around the sleeve 12 and extending ycoter-minous with the upper and lower ends 16 and 18, respectively, of the sleeve. The body 14 may be formed of any suitable resilient material, such as rubber or neoprene, which will withstand the environment in which swab cups are used.

A relatively thin lip 20 is formed around the body 14 near the upper end 22 of the body. The lip 2t)y is molded to extend upwardly and' outwardly from the axis of the body 14 and sleeve 12 in the relaxed condition of the lip. As indicated on the left hand side of FIG. l, the lip 20 is of a thickness to be readily flexible for bending downwardly and outwardly along a radius 24 when fluid pressure is applied on the upper face 26 of the lip as will be described below. Thus, the outer edge 28 of the lip 20 may be moved downwardly and outwardly on an arc 30 to increase the overall diameter of the lip 28.

A column 32 of resilient material is molded around the body 14, integrally with the body 14, immediately below the lip 20 to support the lip 20 when the swab cup 1s `removing iiuid from a tubing, as will be described. The term column is used 'in this specication andthe appended claims to mean that resilient material below a particular lip 20 which resists the downward movement of the lip. With the lip 20 and column 32 in their relaxed conditions yas shown in FIG. 1, a groove 34 is formed between the lip and column to allow substantial downward ilexing of the lip 20 prior to contact between the lip and column. It will also be noted in FIG. 1 that when the column 32 is in =a relaxed condition, the outer diameter thereof substantially conforms to the outer diameter of the lip 20 when the lip 20 is in a -relaxed condition. Further, it will be observed in FIG. 2 thlat the outer surface of the column 32 is substantially parallel with the inner periphery of the tubing string in which the swab is used. T'he axial thickness of the column 32 is substantially greater (at least ve times greater) than the axial thickness of the lip 20 in order that the column 32 will be subjected to primarily compression forces when a force is applied to the upper end 36 of the column. For example, in a cup for swabbing two inc'h tubing, the lip 20 may be V16 inch thick and the column 32 may be 1%6 i-nch thick. It will be further noted in FIG. l that the upper end 36 of the column 32 is tapered upwardly and outwardly at a lesser angle than the lip 20 (in the lrelaxed condition of the elements) to provide the groove 34 and allow some downward flexing of the lip 20 prior to contact between the lip 20 and the column 32 as indicated above.

As shown in FIG. 2, the swab cup 10 is utilized on a mandrel 38 having a lower enlarged end 40. The upper end (not shown) of the mandrel 38 is in turn connected to a wire line for lowering and raising the mandrel 38 through a tubing 42. The sleeve 12 of the cup 10 is of a size to provide a sliding t thereof on the mandrel 38 and to contact the lower enlarged end 40 of the mandrel to prevent loss of the cup 10 from the mandrel. A flange 44 is formed around the mandrel 38 in vertically spaced relation from the enlarged end 40, with the distance between the ange 44 and end 40 being greater than the length of the swab cup 10. It will be apparent that the ange 44 provides a stop to limit the upward movement of the swab cup 10 on the mandrel as shown in FIG. 2 and as will be further described below. A plurality of vertical bypass passageways or utes 46 are formed in circumferentially spaced relation around the periphery of the mandrel 38. The lower end 48 of each bypass passageway terminates immediately above the lower enlarged end 40 of the mandrel, and the upper end 50 of each bypass passageway 46 extends above the flange 44 in order to be exposed to the interior of a tubing 42 at all times.

In operation, the swab cup 10 is positioned on the mandrel 38 between the flange 44 and lower enlarged end 40 preparatory to a swabbing operation. In this connection it may be noted that the lower enlarged end 40 of .the mandrel is normally threadedly connected to the main body portion of the mandrel in order that the swab cup 10 may be changed when and as desired. The mandrel 38 is then lowered through the tubing 42 to the desired depth. Fluid normally stands in the tubing 42 and the object of the swabbing operation is to remove this body of fluid. As the mandrel 38 is being lowered through the body of fluid in the tubing, the uid reacts on the lower end of the swab cup 10 and slides the swab cup upwardly against the flange 44. In this condition of the swab cup, the outer diameters of the lip 20 and column 32 are substantially smaller than the inner diameter of the tubing 42 to provide an annulus 52 around the swab cup for the bypass of uid. For example, when the tubing has an inner diameter of two inches, the outer diameters of the lip 20 and column 32 may be 115/16 inches, making the annulus 52 equal to approximately 0.2 square inch (equivalent to a 1A: inch round hole). It may also be noted in this connection that the swab cup 10 will then not be in contact with the inner wall of the tubing 42, unless the swab cup is lowered eccentrically in the tubing, in which event only one small portion of the cup will be in contact with the tubing. Fluid standing in the tubing 42 is also bypassed through the bypass passageways 46 in the mandrel 48, since the lower end 53 of the swab cup is raised to expose the lower ends 48 of the bypass passageways. As a result, the mandrel 38 and swab cup 10 may be lowered through fluid standing in the tubing 42 with a minimum of resistance and in a minimum of time.

When the swab cup 10 has reached the desired depth in the tubing 42, an upward pull is exerted on the mandrel 38. During the initial upward movement of the man.- drel 38, the uid in the tubing 42 positioned above the swab cup 10 will retard the upward movement ofthe swab cup until the lower end 53 of the swab cup contacts the lower enlarged end 40 of the mandrel. It will then be notedthat the sleeve 12 of the swab cup is in closing relation over the lower ends 48 of the bypass passageways 46 to prevent the downward flow of lluid through these passageways. As soon as the sleeve 12 contacts the lower enlarged end 40 of the mandrel 38, continued upward movement of the mandrel will cause the lluid standing in the tubing 42 above the swab cup 10 to react on the upper face 26 of the lip 20 and flex the lip 20 downwardly and outwardly to bring the outer edge 28 of the lip into sealing engagement with the inner wall of the tubing 42 as illustrated in FIG. 3. As soon as this sealing engagement is obtained, the lip 20 closes the upper end of the annulus 52 and prevents a further flow of fluid downwardly around the swab cup; whereupon the entire weight of the fluid column above the swab cup is imposed on the lip 20 to further deflect the lip 20 downwardly as shown in FIG. 4.

As indicated, FIG. 4 illustrates the condition of the swab cup 10 as the swab cup is removing fluid from the tubing 42. In this condition of the cup, the lip 20 is flexed downwardly at an angle slightly below the horizontal in tight sealing engagement with the inner wall of the tubing 42, and the weight imposed on the lip 20 is transferred to the column 32. In this connection it should be notedthat the groove 34 is actually not in existence at such time since the lower face of the lip 20 is in contacting relation with the upper end 36 of the column 32, but the groove 34 is shown in FIG. 4 for illustrative purposes only. The force imposed on the upper end 36 of the column 32 displaces or distorts the material of the column 32 outwardly into engagement with the inner wall of the tubing 42. As will be understood by those skilled in` the art, rubber is relatively incompressible, such that when force is applied to the upper end 36 of the column 32, `the resilient material in the upper end portion of the column'will be distorted or displaced. This distorted and displaced material will take the path of least resistance, arid, since vthe column 32 is of appreciable length,.the resilient material being displaced will be opposed by material in the lower end portion of the column. Thus, the material comprising the upper, outer portion of the column 32 will be displaced outwardly into engagement with the tubing 42 and thereby augment the seal with the tubing which is provided by the lip 20. It should also be noted that by virtue of the substantial length of the column 32,I the column 32 functions more nearly like a column irl-compression, rather than functioning like a cantilever a'sdoes'the lip 20 until the lip 20 engages the upper end of the column.

As previously indicated, FIG. 4 indicates the positions of the various portions of the swab cup 10 when the cup is subjected to a normal load of fluid. FIG. .5 has been included in the drawings as illustrating an extreme overloaded condition for the swab cup 10. It will be noted in FIG. 5 that the lip 20 is flexed downwardly yat a substantial angle and sufficient pressure or force has been applied on-the upper end of the column 32 to distort the column and place the entire length of the column in engagement with the tubing 42. This latter condition of the swab cup will be obtained only when the swab cup is being used to lift an excessive amount of fluid. With a relatively slight increase in pressure on the lip 20 (with the lip 20 in the position shown in FIG. 5), the entire body 14 of resilient material can be stripped from the sleeve 12. Thus, should the cup become overloaded or stuck in the tubing, the resilient material can be stripped olf to avoid failure of the mandrel or the wire line being used to pull the mandrel. 'The resilient material stripped oil. will normally remain in tubular form and can be removed with a spear.

FIG. 6 of the drawings has been included to illustrate the movement of the swab cup 10 upwardly through a coupling 54 used for interconnecting two joints of tubing which have been designated 42a and 42b for purposes of 56 between the adjacent ends of the tubing joints.

6 illustration. The ends of the joints of tubing 42a and 42b are normally threaded slightly less than half way through the coupling 54 to provide an annular recess or groove As the lip 20 enters the coupling recess 56, fluid will leak around the outer periphery of the lip and relieve at least a portion of the pressure on the upper surface 26 of the lip. As a result, the force imposed on the column 32 will also be decreased, such that both the lip 20 and column 32 will approach their relaxed conditions and the annulus S2 around the swab cup will again temporarily be in existence. The re-establishment of the annulus 52 v provides a leakage of some of the fluid column from above the swab cup back downwardly into the tubing string, but only a minor amount of fluid will be lost since the swab cup will be moved upwardly through the tubing string at an appreciable speed. Since the lip 20 is again near its relaxed condition while in the coupling recess 56, the lip will freely enter the lower end 58 of the upper joint of tubing 42a yand not be subjected to any material mechanical shearing force as the lip enters the lower end of this tubing joint. As the lip 20 enters the end 58 of the tubing joint 42a, the fluid above the lip will flex the lip downwardly and outwardly into sealing engagement with the inner wall of the respective joint of tubing and this seal is increased as the cup is pulled on upwardly. The upper end portion of the column 32 will also freely enter the lower end 58 of the tubing joint 42a and be subjected to a minimum mechanical shearing action,

The present invention also contemplates a multiple lip swab cup las generally designated by reference character 60 and illustrated in cross section in FIG. 8. The swab cup 60 comprises a rigid re-inforcing sleeve 62 yand a body 64 of resilient material bonded around the outer periphery of the sleeve. At least two relatively thin lips 66 are formed around the body 64 in vertically spaced relation. Each lip 66 extends upwardly and outwardly from the axis of the body 64 and the axis of the sleeve 62 in the relaxed condition of the lip in the same manner as the lip 20 of the swab cup 10 previously described. A column 68 of resilient material is formed around the body 64 immediately below each of the lips 66 corresponding in size and function to the column 32 of the swab c up 10. An annular groove 70 of substantial width is provided in the outer periphery of the body 64 between the lower end 72 of the upper column 68 and t-he upper face 74 of the lower lip 66 in order that no normal downward deformation of the upper column 68 will displace or interfere with the function of the lower lip 66. The width of the groove 70 is at least twice as large as the thickness of each lip 66 to provide adequate space for the displacement of the elastic material in the upper column 68.

Each lip 66 and cooperating column 68 of the swab cup 60 functions in the same manner as the swab cup 10 previously described and the combination of two or more sets of lips and columns is particularly useful in lifting long fluid columns in deep wells. When a swab cup 60 is used to lift a relatively light weight (short column of fluid) the upper lip 66 and upper column 68 will normally be the only portions of the swab cup functioning, except when the cup is moved through a coupling 54 as shown in FIG. 9.

When the upper lip 66 enters a coupling recess 56, the upper lip and upper column function in the manner previously described for the swab cup 10. As a result, the fluid bypassing the upper lip 66 and column 68 will act downwardly on the lower lip 66 and lower column 68 until the upper lip 66 and upper column 68 are disposed in the upper tubing joint 42a as illustrated in FIG. 9. When the lower lip 66 enters the coupling recess 56, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the lower lip 66 and the lower column 68 become at least partially relaxed to again provide an annulus 76 around the lower portion of the swab cup, such that the lower lip 66 and lower column 68 will freely move into the lower end 58 of the tubing joint 42a.

FIG. 9 also illustrates the continued existence of the groove 70 above the lower lip 66 when the upper column 68 is fully loaded, such that the material displaced at the lower end 72 of the upper column 68 does not interfere with the position or function of the lower lip 66.

From the `foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel swab cup construction wherein the entire outer diameter of the cup is less than the inner diameter of the tubing in which the cup is used when the cup is in a relaxed condition. Therefore, an annulus is provided between the cup and the inner wall of the tubing as the cup is being lowered in the tubing Ifor the bypass of fluid around the cup. Such sizing of the swab cup also minimizes the wear on the outer surfaces of the cup as the cup is being lowered through a tubing string and the cup m-ay be lowered through a tubing string rfull of fluid in a minimum of time. Notwithstanding the reduced diameter of the present swab cup in the relaxed condition of the cup, the thin flexible lip or lips are quickly flexed into sealing engagement with the inner wall of the tubing during the initial upward movement of the oup to effectively seal the difuid column positioned above the cup and provide a lifting action. The resilient column below each thin liexible lip prevents the flexible lli-p from turning over and losingV its sealing engagement with the inner wall of the tubing, such that substantial fluid loads may be `swalbbed from a tubing. Each resilient column also -functions to augment the seal provided by the cooperating flexible lip when the cooperating flexible lip ils fiully loaded, to further enhance the lifting abilities of the cup. It will also be apparent that any number of sets of fiexilble lips and resilient columns may be provided on a swab cup to lift substantially any desired fluid load.

`Changes rnay be made in the combination and a-rrangement of parts as heretofore set forth inthe specification and illustrated in the drawings without -departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A swab cup f-or swabbing fluid from a well tubing by pulling the swab cup upwardly through the tubing, comprising:

a tubular body;

a flexible lip of resilient lmaterial bonded around the body extending upwardly and outwardly from the body and 'having an outer diameter, in the relaxed condition thereof, less than the inner diameter of the tubing, and being responsive to fluid pressure `above the lip for downward flexure into sealing engagement with the inner wall of the tubing; and

a column of resilient material bonded around the body below the lip in a position t-o support the lip when the lip is flexed into sealing engagement with the inner wall 'of the tubing; said column, in a relaxed condition, having an outer surface parallel with the inner periphery of the tubing and an outer diameter `less than the inner diameter of the tubing for treedom of downward movement of a swab cup through the tubing; the length of said column, measured along said -outer surface, being greater than the wall thickness of said column for distortion of Said outer surface into engagement with the inner periphery of the tubing when the swab cup is lifting fluid through the tubing to prevent sai-d lip from `inverting and dumping the fluid being lifted.

2. A swab cup as defined in claim 1 -wherein said body is formed of resilient material and said lip and column are formed integrally with the body.

3. The swab cup defined in claim 1 where-in said lip and column, in their relaxed conditions, are of substantially t-he same outer diameter.

4. A swab Icup is defined in claim l1 wherein the upper end of said column is tapered upwardly and outwardly from the body at an angle less than the angle of said lip,

when said lip and column Iare in their relaxed conditions.

5. A swab cup for swabbing fluid 'from a well tubing by pulling the swab cup upwardly through the tubing, comprising: i

a rigid sleeve having an upper and a lower end;

at least two flexible 4lips of resilient material molded around the sleeve in vertically spacedV relation, each of said lips extending upwardly and outwardly from the sleeve and having on outer diameter, in the relaxed condition thereof, less than the inner diameter of the tubing and being responsive to fluid pressure above the lip for downward flexure into sealing engagement with the inner wall of the tubing; and

a column of resilient material mol-ded around the sleeve below eac-h lip in a position -to support the respective li-p when the lip i-s flexed into sealing engagement with the inner wall of the tubing; each of said columns, in its relaxed condition, having an outer surface parallel with the inner periphery of the tubing and an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of ther tubing for freedom of downward movement of a swab cup through the tubing; the length of each of saidy columns, measured along the outer surface thereof, being greater than tbe wall thickness of the respective column for distortion of -said outer sur-face into Vsealing engagement with the inner periphery of the tubing when t-he swab cup is lifting fluid through the tubing to prevent the respective 'lip supported by the respective column from inverting and dumping the fluid being lifted.

6. A swab cup as defined in claim 5 w-herein said lips and columns are integral portions of a body of resilient material molded around the sleeve.

7. A swab cup as defined in Iclaim 6 'wherein each lower lip is spaced downwardly from the adjacent upper column a .distance greater than the downward deformation of said adjacent upper column during upward move.- mentof the swab oup through the tubing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,023,062 2/ 1962 Waldrop` 92-242 3,031f'241 4/ 1962 Waldrop 92-242 3,062,601 11/ 1962 Sadler 92-242 EDGAR W. GEOGH'EGAN, Primary Examiner. KARL J. ALBRECHT, Examimzr.k 

1. A SWAB CUP FOR SWABBING FLUID FROM A WELL TUBING BY PULLING THE SWAB CUP UPWARDLY THROUGH THE TUBING, COMPRISING: A TUBULAR BODY; A FLEXIBLE LIP OF RESILIENT MATERIAL BONDED AROUND THE BODY EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM THE BODY AND HAVING AN OUTER DIAMETER, IN THE RELAXED CONDITION THEREOF, LESS THAN THE INNER DIAMETR OF THE TUBING, AND BEING RESPONSIVE TO FLUID PRESSURE ABOVE THE LIP FOR DOWNWARD FLEXURE INTO SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER WALL OF THE TUBING; AND A COLUMN OF RESILIENT MATERIAL BONDED AROUND THE BODY BELOW THE LIP IN A POSITION TO SUPPORT THE LIP WHEN THE LIP IS FLEXED INTO SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER WALL OF THE TUBING; SAID COLUMN, IN A RELAXED CONDITION, HAVING AN OUTER SURFACE PARALLEL WITH THE INNER PERIPHERY OF THE TUBING FOR FREELESS THAN THE INNER DIAMETER OF THE TUBING FOR FREEDOM OF DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF A SWAB CUP THROUGH THE TUBING; THE LENGTH OF SAID COLUMN, MEASURED ALONG SAID OUTER SURFACE, BEING GREATER THAN THE WALL THICKNESS OF SAID COLUMN FOR DISTORTION OF SAID OUTER SURFACE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER PERIPHERY OF THE TUBING WHEN THE SWAB CUP IS LIFTING FLUID THROUGH THE TUBING TO PREVENT SAID LIP FROM INVERTING AND DUMPING THE FLUID BEING LIFTED. 